Monthly Archives: February 2018

When it comes to shopping for a Real Estate Professional, there are many places to start. As of December 2006, there were over 2 million Real Estate Agents across the United States. With approximately 75% of people turning to the Internet to start their Real Estate Search, you go to your favorite search engine and depending on your search results you have to sort through the clutter of hundreds or thousands of Real Estate Websites. All the Web sites start looking the same and you quickly become bored or even frustrated. So how do you sort through the confusion to choose an Agent that’s right for you and understands your specific Pet Friendly needs?

Getting to know the specialties of a Pet Friendly Real Estate Agent is an important, but sometimes a difficult thing to do. This all comes down to the Agent’s ability to set themselves apart in the competitive Real Estate market and be the expert in their area of specialization. There are few “Pet Friendly” Agents in today’s market that are marketing themselves in the most effective way. It is even more difficult to find a Pet Friendly Agent who specializes in your town or city.

Step Two: Selling a Pet Friendly Property

When preparing a Pet Friendly property for sale, you have a big task ahead of you. It is important to make any property for sale as attractive as possible, but a Pet Friendly property can have a few more challenges. Pet hair has a tendency to find the deepest nooks and crannies in a home and if a home has a distinct pet odors, potential buyers may skip on the property. Your Pet Friendly Agent may suggest a few simple everyday maintenance chores that that can add to the appeal of your property.

o Vacuuming and cleaning your carpets and even your furniture on a regular basis will remove pet hair and dander and is a quick and simple step to keep your home looking neat. To reduce the amount of hair to be vacuumed, make a habit of brushing your pet regularly, which will also keep your pet’s coat healthy.

o Keep up on your ‘Doggy Duty’, which means keeping your yard clean at all times! To a potential buyer a dirty yard could equate with a dirty home.

o Keeping litter boxes clean and covered. Cat urine is a very distinct and difficult smell to eliminate. Keep the litter box in a well ventilated area, clean the litter box often, and consider an odor-reducing kitty litter.

o Have a plan for open houses or scheduled showings of your home. Some people are terrified of animals or even allergic. It is best to remove the pet from your home during a showing or an open house. If that is not possible, or would be stressful for your pet, consider keeping your pet in a crate or ask a friend or relative to pet sit.

o De-clutter your home, including pet toys, pet beds and crates and pet photos. Remember that even if you are Pet Friendly, a potential buyer may not be.

Step Three: Buying a Pet Friendly Property

You can expect your Pet Friendly Agent to be the Pet Friendly Real Estate expert. That means being knowledgeable about everything about a Property from the fenced yard to the local pet parks and Veterinary clinics. After all, you are not just looking for a home is suitable for you but for your whole family – pets included. A Pet Friendly Agent will start by asking you some initial qualifying questions: Are you a dog owner, cat owner, horse or farm owner? The following are examples of a few other topics you can expect that your Pet Friendly Agent will discuss with you:

o Pet Restrictions. You will commonly find pet restrictions in condominiums or deed-restricted neighborhoods. It is critical that you and your Pet Friendly Agent know ahead of time what those restrictions are, if any. They may include the number of pets, size of pet, breed restrictions (even for mixed breeds!) or parking restrictions for horse trailers.

o Veterinary Clinics, Specialty and Emergency Hospitals. In the event of an emergency, it is critical to be close to a 24 hour Emergency Hospital. Luckily, an increasing number of Emergency Hospitals also double as Specialty Hospitals. With the advancement of Veterinary Medicine, you can now provide the very best care for your pet if he or she requires specialty or emergency care and the convenience of a local Hospital may mean life or death for your pet.

o Pet Amenities. The everyday conveniences of safe walking or horse trails, stables, doggy pick-up stations, grooming and boarding facilities, and fenced in exercise areas are great examples of what makes an ordinary property a Pet Friendly property.

o Evacuation. If the potential property you are interested in purchasing is in a natural disaster Evacuation zone, would you have an Evacuation plan for your pets? Evacuation involves a great deal of preparation, especially for horses, and there is usually little notice of an impending disaster. You must be willing to prepare a solid Evacuation plan in place to ensure the safety of your pets.

Step Four: Moving Day

You have found your perfect agent, sold or purchased your Pet Friendly Property, and now it is time to pack up and move. Whether you are moving across town, across country or from another country – you have a big task ahead of you. Preparation is key to a successful move, keeping your pet’s safety in mind:

o Identification. Rule #1 in moving with your pet is properly identifying your pet with an identification tag and sturdy collar. Make sure your pet’s tag includes your destination location and telephone number and a mobile number, so you can be reached easily. Your prior address or telephone number will be useless if you have already moved.

o Medications, Food, and Veterinary Records. Keep a current copy of your pet’s vaccinations in a convenient location and not packed away in the moving truck. If traveling is stressful for your pet, consult your veterinarian about ways that might lessen the stress of travel. Depending on your destination, your pet may also need additional vaccinations, medications, and health certificates. Keep at least one week’s worth of food and medication in case of emergency.

o Crates and Containment Systems. There are many different types of travel crates on the market, and many are lightweight and collapsible just for traveling purposes. Make sure your pet is familiar with the crate you will be using for transportation by gradually introducing him to the crate before your trip. Be sure the crate is sturdy enough for stress-chewers or he could make an escape.

o Traveling by car It is best to travel with your dog in a crate, but if your dog enjoys car travel, you may want to accustom him to a restraining harness. For your safety as well as theirs, it is ALWAYS best to transport cats in a well-ventilated carrier. Never keep your pet in the open bed of a truck, or the storage area of a moving van. In any season, a pet left alone in a parked vehicle is vulnerable to being injured, harmed or stolen. Plan ahead by searching for pet friendly hotels to find overnight lodging during your move, and have plenty of kitty litter and plastic bags on hand for Doggy Duty.

o Keeping your pet secure. Pets can feel vulnerable on moving day. Keep your pet in a safe, quiet place, such as the bathroom on moving day with a PETS INSIDE sign on the door to keep off-limits to friends and professional movers.

o Air Travel. If traveling by air, first check with the airline about any pet requirements or restrictions to be sure you have prepared your pet to be safe and secure during the trip. Give yourself plenty of time to work out any arrangements necessary including consulting with your veterinarian, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

o Preparing your new home. Keep in mind that your pets may be frightened and confused in new surroundings. To reduce the chance of escaping due to fear, or pure excitement to explore the new territory, prepare all the familiar and necessary things your pet will need from day one including food, water, medications, bed, litter box, food and water bowls.

June is quickly approaching and for most coastal regions the thought of a hurricane begins to creep into our minds.

We become concerned about the safety of our homes, our pets and ourselves.

However, hurricanes are not the only disasters that can confront our well being and that of our pets. Floods, wildfires, tornadoes, riots and terrorists attacks add to the list of things that can happen.

The important thing is to have a plan. Hurricane Katrina was a disaster that displaced not only thousands of people but displaced many animals and unfortunately many died along with their owners. It is said that approximately 44 percent of Hurricane Katrina’s victims were pet owners that would not leave their pets.

Until Katrina hit, our country was not too pet friendly in the light of disasters. Most, if not all, did not allow pets of any kind to be brought to a designated shelter.

Currently many states are now providing shelters for owners and their pets providing they follow certain restrictions. Red Cross shelters however, will not allow pets. It is not their rule, but that of the local health departments. A Red Cross shelter is for the benefit of those who do not have pets, who are afraid of pets or who have allergies to pets.

It is up to “you” the pet owner to check your local facilities and see what shelters will allow pets and what size and kind of pet is allowed.

Planning ahead for yourself and your pet should be at the top of your list of things to do. The problem with advance preparing is that many of us go into the “denial mode.” We tell ourselves that whatever the disaster is “it is not going to involve us.” Then it hits and we are not even prepared for ourselves let alone our pets.

So what should a pet owner do? In the following paragraphs I am going to give you some tips on how to keep your cat or dog as safe as humanly possible. The important thing is to remember you need to prepare before a disaster strikes.

A disaster kit should be large enough to contain all the things you normally need for your pet for at least a 7-day period. It should be waterproof (a plastic container with a tight fitting lid) and labeled “disaster supplies cat or dog.”

Food: Pack the brand your pet is used to eating, both canned and dry. Smaller cans are better, as pets in a disrupted setting tend to eat less.
Take along a can opener (even if the cans have lift tabs, some times they do not work.)
Bowls for food and a plastic lid cover for uneaten canned food. Keep uneaten opened cans in a cooler. A spoon or two might be helpful to dish out the canned food.

Water: Enough water for at least a week. Do not keep water in a disaster kit for more than 3 months at a time and store it in a cool dark place.
A water bowl along with a small bottle of bleach, to use if necessary to purify undrinkable water.

Sanitation Supplies: Kitty litter and a litter box for the cat. Take enough litter to use for at least a week along with small plastic bags to dispose of the litter when cleaning out the box.
For your dog take a “pooper scooper” and plastic bags to dispose of the waste.

Cleaning supplies: Paper towels for accidents and to use for cleaning litter box, food dishes, crate or carrier.
Dish soap and some disinfectant for cleaning crates, carriers and assorted possible messes.

Pictures: Have recent photos of your pet, take several or make copies in case you need to do posters if the pet gets lost.
Have a picture of you with your pet, great for identification should the pet get lost and someone finds it. This is very important.

Veterinary Information: You will need the recent records of your pet’s shots and vaccinations.
You need to take a supply of any medication your pet is currently taking.
Write you Vet’s name, address, and phone number on a piece of paper. Include also a note giving permission for another person besides you to get emergency treatment for your pet if you are not available.
Also have your name, all available telephone numbers that can reach you, address and any other info, so if you and your pet get separated you can be found.Put all this information in a zip lock plastic bag.

Collars, tags and ID: Get your cat used to wearing a break away collar with an ID tag on it.
Have your dog wearing one at all times.
Get your pet a microchip and sign up with the national registry.
Have several ID tags in case one gets lost.
Use a harness on your cat to keep it on a leash, do not depend on the collar. More cats have been lost with collars on as they can get out of them. Have your cat practice wearing a harness at home a few hours at a time,
Have several leashes (one may get lost) and keep your pet on a leash if it is not in a crate or carrier.
Always know where your pet is at all times.

Crate or carrier: Make certain the crate or carrier is big enough for the pet to move around comfortably and has room for food dishes and water if necessary.
Crates (for dogs) take up a great deal of room and the ideal product would be a collapsible wire crate with a sturdy lock.
Possible containment for a small or mid sized dog could be a collapsible exercise pen, just make certain the dog cannot dig out or crawl under it. Fasten it down with a stake driven into the ground and fastened to the pen.

First aid kit: Put together a small first aid kit that contains bandages, gauze, antiseptic wipes, some medicated cream recommended by your vet, some tweezers and scissors and a cold/hot pack.
Keep in a watertight container.These are just a few suggestions to guide you in preparing for a disaster. The most important thing is to be prepared and ready to move when the time arrives.

If you are in doubt as to whether or not you should take your pet ask yourself this question; “would I leave a young child here to cope?” If the answer is no, than take your pet.

What can you do for your pet if you cannot take it
with you? This is in the case of a hurricane or flood. In case of a fire or a tornado warning do not leave your pet.

If you are facing a hurricane, do not leave your pet outside. A bathroom, a closet or a room without too many windows is a good place to start. If you have a basement, keep your pet there.

Here is where a “self feeder” for dry food comes in handy. Fill it with as much dry food as it will hold. If you are leaving several pets get several feeders. If the self-feeders are not possible, leave dry food in containers the dogs or cats can get to. Leave plenty of water in containers that cannot be knocked over.

Leave several articles of clothing that you have recently worn with the pet, your scent will provide some comfort.

Expect a mess when you come home.

Put ID tags on the pet with all necessary information.
Leave your vet’s name and information along with a note giving permission for someone other than you to get treatment for the pet if necessary. Put this information in a plastic bag and nail it to a wall or door so it is visible.

If there is danger of a flood you need to provide places of higher elevation for the pet to get to.

In case of a flood, the cellar is definitely not the place to keep your pet. If you have an idea of the possible flood level, construct some type of area for the pet to climb onto to stay dry. Pile up furniture and create a level space that the pet can reach. Make certain there is food and water available for your pet to eat at floor level and on the higher space.

If you are leaving your dog outside, do not tie or chain it up. Dogs can be left in garages, barns, sheds or even a flat roof (provide a large board in case you are in a sunny area, as a roof can get very hot and burn a pet’s pads.)

Wherever you leave your dog, be certain that it can reach a higher level and that there is food and water there for your pet to eat and drink.

Do not leave treats, vitamins or supplements out for your pet, provide only dry food and water.

If your pet is a cat the same instructions apply. Make certain that the cat has a high place to retreat to in case of high water and that you have placed food and water in that location.

Refrigerators, tall entertainment centers or a shelf in a closet can provide safety for your cat. Regarding cats leave a litter box in the location you have chosen.

Making arrangements with a neighbor to keep an eye on your pet if you are not around when the disaster is due to happen is a good idea. Give your neighbor the necessary veterinarian information and a note allowing permission for treatment if you are not available.
Above all preplan and be ready.

If you are going on vacation be certain to check with the kennel or with the person who is caring for your animals to see if they have a disaster plan. This is where preplanning on your part is important. Have your disaster kit ready for them to use if necessary.

Leaving a pet is a heart-wrenching thing to do and please do not do it unless it is absolutely the only thing you can do. Just writing that sentence has reduced me to tears, as I know I could not leave my pets under any circumstances.

Can you relate to the constant drain on your wallet? Would you like to reduce the cost of your pet supplies?

If you too love your pet or pets and would like to benefit from some ways I save money on pet supplies then take just a few minutes and let me share some cost saving ideas that can really lighten the financial drain for those pets that we consider a integral part of our family.

One of the problems with the cost of pet supplies has become the increasing cost these past few years. It can add up fast. In my house we actually have a line item in our monthly budget because we actually have 3 pets (2 dogs and a cat). In this article I hope to help everyone who loves pets but would like to save money on pet supplies.

Most of us are genuine pet lovers. We love to keep animals as pets for our enjoyment and companionship. Over time, these pets become a regular part of the family. Our pets deserve the very best care just as anyone in the family would. Because of our love and commitment to care for our pets, We’re constantly looking for little nick knacks we can buy while shopping..

The pet supply and pet product industry has grown quite a bit over the past decade. Thus a large number of new pet stores have opened up all through out the country. There are many pet products and pet supplies outlets available in the market today including where you live or at least over the Internet. As a Pet lover, you can buy these products from discount pet stores or order online from the comfort of your home of office.

The goal is sorting through these new shopping options in search for the true values, the genuine best and Lowest discounted prices available. In terms of pet supply inventory, this too has increased dramatically over the past decade. Today there are virtually endless products and pet food options available. Most of the discount pet supply stores have a large assortment of these different products that offers a variety of sizes. In addition they carry a growing selection of pet supplies and pet gifts.

There are a wide variety of online and local discount pet stores for you to choose from. Both online and traditional discount pet supply stores offer a growing selection of items for the pets that you love. The online pet discount stores carries a wider range of product for your pet because their not limited to physical shelf space. These online discount pet stores are a great resource for checking out a discount pet supplies and price comparisons without the need to actually visit stores in your area. Online stores are easy to use as they are easier and more convenient to order from. When purchasing anything online including pet supplies or pet foods you can save money by not having to pay sales taxes in most cases. In addition, you can have many online pet supplies stores offer free shipping to first time buyers or in many cases for a specific period of time of if your order exceeds a certain dollar amount.

Most of the pet supply discount pet stores are pet friendly. They are designed to provide a nice comfortable place for the pet owner and your pet while your buying pet supplies. Some of these discount stores offer many additional benefits and services in addition to the normal services you’ve come to expect. Some of these extra services include pet grooming services, pet photography and veterinary services, Community services such as obedience classes, pet adoption clinics and seminars on pet care are also offered.

Well I hope this article has helped you and I hope it has shed some light on the challenge of saving money on your pets supplies regardless whether you use a local regular pet supply store or an online store. This may take a little research and price comparison on your part but the savings will be well worth it.

Some things that you may want to take into consideration when selecting your pet store include the locality of the pet store, the expertise and knowledge of the people employed at the pet store and the history and information available on the pets at the pet stores. Firstly, it is important to find a pet store that is close enough to you to meet any future needs you may have. This is not such an important issue if you will not have to be making return visits to the store, but if you are purchasing a pet that requires special food or supplies that are only found at that pet store, you will want to make sure it is not going to be a burden trying to get to it.

Next, you want to make sure that the owners and employees at the pet store are very knowledgeable and helpful. This is important especially if you are purchasing a kind of pet that is rare, exotic or that you are not that familiar with. It is important to know that the people that have been providing care to the pet prior to you have been taking the best care as possible of the pet to ensure its health and well-being when it is adjusted to moving to your home.

You also want to make sure that the pet store has good records on where all of the pets they carry came from. The origin and paperwork of each pet should be well documented, and the information should be readily available to you when you purchase the animal. That way you will know more about the history of the pet and also any vaccinations or health conditions that are present.

Finding Chicago area pet stores is no problem, just make sure that the one you select has all of the above criteria met and that you feel comfortable with your purchase of your new pet. Depending on where you live in the Chicago area, there are plenty of pet stores to choose from in different locations and that carry different kinds of pets and products. Your best resource for finding pet stores that serve your needs is to check out your local yellow pages, phone books and online directories of Chicago area pet stores.